Mail-bag-catching apparatus.



J. H. MURRAY.

MAH.BAG CATCHING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED AUG.10, HUT. LQ'ZQAOS;

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I I v i 9 g Z1 1.3 4 i INVENTOR W'TNESSES afi mwr W i W BY ATTORNEY m: Nnsms PE In Patented Sept. 17, 1918.,

J. H. MURRAY.

MAIL BAG CATCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I0, 1911.

1,279,408. 7 Patented Sept. 17,1918.

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JOSEPH H. MURRAY, OF HOMER, GEORGIA.

MAIL-BAG-CATGHING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JosEPH'H. MURRAY,

a citizenof the United States, residing at ratus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in mail bagcatching apparatus, and has particular application to apparatus whereby mail bags may be delivered to a moving train.

' In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to improve and simplify the construction of mail bag catching apparatus of the class described, and to provide apparatus whereby the bag will be automatically gripped as the train passes the station, thereby holding the bag securely in place so that such bag may be removed from the holder by one of the crew of the mail car.

It is also my purpose to provide mail bag catching apparatus which may be readily and conveniently swung from negative to active position and vice versa, which will embody comparatively few parts and these so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view showing my improved mail bag catching apparatus in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the apparatus removed from the car.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, 1 designates a horizontal cross bar having the ends thereof journaled in an opening formed in the jambs of the doorway of the mail car. Connected to the bar 1 and arranged at right angles thereto is a bar 2. Secured to one end of the bar 2 is a base .plate 3, and upstanding from the base plate Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Sept. 1'7, 1918 Application filed August 10, r

1917. Serial No. 185,549.

lugs 4. Uprisingfrom the base plate 3 ad-.

. 9 having one end formed with a downturned lug 10 and the other end bent downwardly as at 11. Pivotedto the underside ofthe base plate is a trip lever 12, and one end of the trip lever 12 is connected with the downwardly projecting end 11 of the lever 9 through the medium of a link 13, while the other end portion of the trip lever extends across the space between the jaws 6 below such jaws. 14: designates a leaf spring having one end fastened to the base and the other extremity bearing against the lower edge of the lever 9 to hold the lug end of the lever 9 normally in its lower position.

In practice, when it is desired to use the apparatus, the jaws 6 are swung to open position against the action of the spring 8 and one of the'jaws engages behind the lug 10 on the lever 9 so that the jaws will be held in open position. The bar 2 is now swung from vertical or'negative position to horizontal or active position, so that the apparatus will be in position to catch the bag as the car passes the station, and in the movement of the car the bag strikes the lever 12, thereby swinging. the lever 9 against the action of the spring 14 to release the jaws so that the latter may close around the bag under the action of the spring 8 and grip the bag.

It .will be understood, of course, that the station may be equipped with apparatus similar to that just described so as to remove the mail bag from the car.

While I have herein shownand described the preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim 1. A mail bag catchercomprising a base plate, a pair of jaWs pivoted upon said base plate and projecting forwardly therefrom, intermeshing segmental gears on said jaws insuring simultaneous movement thereof, a spring connecting and urging said "jaws toward each other, a bar pivoted for vertical movement on one side of said plate and having a projection engaging one of said jaws for maintaining said jaws in open position,

aspr-in-g bearing against said'banand urging said projection to saidengaging position, a horizontally movable lever pivoted on the other side of said plate and having one end positioned *to he engaged loy a mail loag to he caught, and a link connected with said lever and said bar whel-eby engagement of a mail bag With said lever will saving said bar to disengage said projections for releasing said jaws.

Copies of this :pa'teut may the obtainezi .for

2. A mail bag catcher comprising a base plate, pair of JGJWS pivoted thereon and movable simultaneously, a spring normally urging said aWs into closed position, a bar pivoted on the top of said plate and movable vertically thereon, a projection on the lower side of one end of said bar engageable with one of said aws for maintaining them in In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

Josnrri i-i. MURRAY.

five cents ach,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

